Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-01-10
IT WILL NOTLAST.
"Cold Short Thinks the Demand for Muck
VIII Not Last-The Nail Trade.

Coiu snort iast ietoer In tne SL
Louis Age Of Steel is avery interesting one.
From it we quote the following:
During the last week in December tho
activity in this market was unabated, and
so it continues into this week, and pig iron
isselling S. per ton higher than one year
ago, and production has more than kept
pace. .Bessemers advanced from $3.50 to
$2l.50. Standard brands of pig metal are
contracted for so far ahead that but few
sales are being made, and taking into con-
sideration the usual requirements Of trade,
an accumulation of stocks during 1887 is
well nigh Impossible. Prices in all depart
ments are still advancing. Manufactured
iron has received another slight impetus,
which, however, still leaves it outside of
Just relations with the advances made in
raw materials. The ore men receive all
the credit for the stiffening the market has
received, and the relations between them
and finished iron producers are not Of the
most cordial nature. 1t is very certain
that the large ideas of the ore men have
stimulated importation of African ore by
the Wheeling iron masters. During 1886
abont one-tenth of the ore used in this
country was imported, and the assertion
might be made with fair inference that for
1887 one-ifth of the ore consumed will be
imported. Atpresent prices finished iron
producers are workingat too decided dis
advantage-their margins are too infinitesi-
NAL; while the ore men are getting pletho-
ric with diversified profits.
Demand, always inconsiderate in its
requirements, invariably stimulates over
production. This is being illustrated in
the muck bar movement. This very ne
cessary material came into urgent demand
from the exigencies of the pipe makers,
structural iron fabricators and railway
supply producers. The advance in price
has been illegitimate and it will not last.
All the mills that had abandoned their
boiling furnaces, some in fact torn their
equipments down, are refitting and re-
building. There will presently be glut
in the market and the cobweb props will
fall from under. Wheeling, always on the
alert to come to the aid of a foredoomed
dynasty, is preparing to overstock the
muck bar market, and unless trade move
ments entirely depart from their usual
course there will be some interchanges OF
coincidence before many moons change.
The iron industry does not breed many is-
sues that can not be ridden to death.
During the last year the production Of
steel has been legitimately and prudently
augmented This branch is in the most
wholesomely progressive condition Of any.
The forebearance of speculative spirits 10
disturb the serenity of this business is pc
culiar. Seven new Bessemer and three
open-hearth plants were built in the dis
trict during 1856. Steel has not supplanted
iron with the thoroughness that was antic-
ipated-in fact, the conflict seems to be in
the nature Of a drawn battle. Various
features arose during the year which
checked this movement; the strongest
were the sudden prominence assumed by
some heretofore rather unobtrusive arti-
clcs, such us wrought pipe; and the legiti-
mate growth of the demand for standard
productions, such as structural specialties,
railway supplies, etc.
'Stecl nails have kept the Noisy tenor
Of their way and are growing IN popu'
larity The steel wire nail had an evan
escent prominence; il soon lost hold, how
ever, and seems to have dropped out DI
notice. The production Of steel nails will
he decidedly restrained during 81, reason
ing from indications and the sentiments OF
producers. This branch of trade is being
managed latterly with n sagacity that
must surprise its most intimate followers.
Prices are being maintained close to the
late advance by an effort the more praise
worthy because it is decided departure
from old methods. Nail factories without
steel plant annexes are very
much in the situation Of the under dog in
q fight, and month Of Sundays will be
added to the past before they see daylight
The measure of relief Obtainable by the
purchase of inferior foreign steel slabs
gives but sorry promise for the future.
Better for them 10 WOO the discarded love,
iron nails, and gather what crumbs they
can from the feast The Belmont com
pany have been using manufactured gl,
fuel for the past eighteen months, and
with the aid furnished by NJ. V. Smiths
regenerativc furnaces, General Manager
Nick Reistcr says the change from the
coal TO gas fuel brought inexpressible
gladness to hissOul. Natural gas has just
been introduced in the Belmont, the equip
ment comprising eight steam boilers, three
heating furnaces two blulng furnaces and
four tending furnaces, and the renewed
improvement il 80 decided that Manager
Reister's measure Of happiness is full, and
Nicholas is not easily betrayed into extra
hearty cknOwledgements-th must be
a winning cnance or he won't bet. The
steel boss roller John Campbell says,
comes from the furnaces To the rol!G.
clean, uniform and free from scale and
it works through the rolls softly, easily
and trim. The heat in the other depart
ments is uniform and seems 10 exert a
beneficial effect on the plate and nails.
The Belmont management and depart
ment bosses would be very 10th to return
to the old servitors, made gas or coal.
Manager Reister claims that the gain in
cleanliness, freedom from coal debris. dust,
CRIME and smoke is, 40 far as comfort is
concerned, incalculable. Comfort may
not be essential TO fBt-class management
and workmanship, but il Is potent per
suader. Some few months ago wrote
something anent some experiments made
by the Riverside Company with steel skelp
for pipe. il is surmised that a new enter
prise has originated from this germ"